GASTONIA, N.C. -- A registered sex offender is now charged with rape and indecent liberties with a minor.
Investigators say 36-year-old Douglas Dalton Rayfield raped a 12-year-old girl in a car in Cherryville and then raped the same girl at a Gastonia motel.
Police say Rayfield has been raping the girl since she was just 8 years old.
"We know of at least five occasions and there could possibly be more," said Cherryville Police Lt. Mike Allred.
Police say Rayfield was already a registered sex offender. According to the N.C. Sex Offender Registry, Rayfield was convicted in 2002 of taking indecent liberties with a minor.
Investigators say Rayfield knows the victim's stepfather and that Rayfield saw the girl often.
"They trusted him. They are very shocked," Allred said, describing the parents' reaction.
The girl confided in someone at her school about the rapes and that's what led to Rayfield's arrest.
Police searched Rayfield's house, confiscated a gun, computer and thumb drives. They even found naked pictures of young girls under Rayfield's bed.
"It appeared to be child pornography," Allred said.
At least one of the girls in the picture, police say, is a different girl from Gaston County. Allred said it is possible Rayfield took some of those pictures.
"We do have evidence that would indicate there are other victims," said Gastonia police Sgt. Gene Weaver.
In court Thursday, Rayfield said he plans to hire his own lawyer and asked the judge to reduce his bond.
"I work for my father and I pretty much do all the physical labor," Rayfield said.
The judge kept Rayfield's bond at $2 million.
Police expect additional charges and are asking anyone who had contact with Rayfield to come forward.
Anyone with information related to Rayfield should contact Gastonia police at 704-866-6702 or Cherryville police at 704-435-1717.
